Santa Margarita Little Leaguers celebrate the go ahead two-run homer by Bobby Gray, right.
Santa Margarita’s Little League team was playing Hawaii in the semifinals of the Little League Baseball West Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, CA on Thursday, August 10, 2017. (Photo by Bill Alkofer/SCNG)

SAN BERNARDINO >> The Gray twins know how to start something and finish it.

Joey Gray struck out five in 4 1/3 innings, and Bobby Gray’s sixth-inning home run proved to be the game winner as Santa Margarita Little League used a late rally to defeat Hilo (Hawaii) LL, 12-8, in a West Region tournament semifinal at Al Houghton Stadium.

“At the end of the day, we persevered. Joey Gray pitched a heck of a game and we hit the cover off the ball,” Southern California manager C.J. Ankrum said.

Joey Gray allowed three earned runs in his first start for Southern California (3-0), which advances to the West Region championship at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

“I was confident in my ability to throw strikes and I felt like my fastball was working for me,” said Joey Gray, who walked one.

Southern California took a 2-0 lead in the first on a double by Drew Rutter and an error, but Hawaii answered with a run in the bottom half on two errors and a walk.

Santa Margarita continued its offensive assault in the second, grabbing three runs on three hits – including another double by Rutter – to take a 5-1 lead.

Hilo, which had come from behind to win each of its first two games at the West Region tournament, got a solo home run from Xaige Lancaster in the third, and loaded the bases before adding another run on Kaynan Kaku’s infield hit.

Hawaii got four runs in the fifth to take an 7-6 lead, but Bobby Gray’s two-run bomb over the left field fence opened the flood gates as Southern California re-took the lead with six runs in the top of the sixth.

“When Bobby hit that ball tonight, it was the best feeling ever,” said Tyler Ankrum, who was on base at the time.

It was the second home run of the tournament for Bobby Gray, who finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Tommy Woods, who came in to close for Southern California in a win over Northern California earlier in the week, got the final five outs for his first victory of the tournament.

“We just keep the same routine we’ve been doing. I mean, it’s worked,” C.J. Ankrum said.

Rutter was 2 for 2 with four RBIs, and A.J. Gamalao was 2 for 3 with two RBIs in the win, Santa Margarita’s 15th consecutive overall.

Joshua Ward doubled, homered and scored twice but Hawaii (2-1) moves on to play Utah in a West Region elimination game at 6 p.m. today.

“We still have a chance at this,” Hawaii manager Baba Lancaster said. “Better to lose now than in the championship game.”

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